Isco winner takes Ronaldo-less Real six points clear

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos

Galena Nuncio
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21 Abril, 2017, 18:12

Though Real Madrid dominated possession from the start, creating good chances, it was Sporting that struck first.

The second half couldn't have gotten off to a worse start and that was despite Real Madrid coming close to getting their noses in front after James' 48th-minute free-kick was met by Nacho and the ball danced along the goal-line.

Zinedine Zidane was impressed with Real Madrid's character as they came from behind to beat strugglers Sporting Gijon 3-2.

Barca begin life without Neymar Barca's season unravelled quickly in the past week as they lost at Malaga to fall three points behind Madrid, who also have a game in hand, at the top of the table and were then thrashed 3-0 by Juventus in the Champions League. The team managed by Zidane didn't play their best game, but finally they won with and incredible Isco, who scored two brilliant goals.

The eccentric former Arsenal captain didn't disappoint in his first press conference where he promised to "kick some players' arse" in an uphill battle to save Granada from relegation in the final seven games of the season.

"That is the hard part of this job, leaving very good players on the bench".

Sporting's joy was short-lived as Isco was allowed a touch too much room inside the area, shuffled away from Carlos Carmona, skipped past Vesga and Fernando Amorebieta, and lashed a shot into the top corner for a similarly high-quality equaliser.

The player himself added (via Marca): "I want to stay in Madrid and I want to stay for many years, both the club and I think we are going to make the right decision".

Neither Madrid nor Barca were particularly impressive in their victories and these are some things we learned from the weekend matches. Sometimes the media misinterpret what you say, to sell papers.

Madrid survived an almighty scare in their 3-2 triumph at Sporting on Saturday, overturning a 2-1 deficit as Isco hit the victor with eight seconds of regulation time remaining.

Sporting opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Mikel Vesga scooped a pass over Madrid's defence which Duje Cop slammed home, before Isco equalised three minutes later with a brilliant individual goal.

"I have always made it clear that I want to be here for many years", he said after the win over Sporting.

Real's stars should be fresh for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg match against Bayern at the Bernabeu.

Carrasco was denied his hat-trick by a fine save from Salvatore Sirigu before the Italian 'keeper made an even better stop to deny Thomas Partey seconds later.

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